Finding Your Undertone
The secret to choosing flattering jewelry is not your surface skin color — it is your undertone. Your undertone is the subtle hue beneath your skin that remains constant regardless of tanning, blushing, or seasonal changes. There are three categories:
How to Determine Your Undertone
| Test | Warm Undertone | Cool Undertone | Neutral Undertone |
|---|
| Vein test | Veins on your wrist appear green | Veins appear blue or purple | Veins appear blue-green (both) |
| Jewelry test | Gold jewelry looks more natural on you | Silver jewelry looks more natural | Both gold and silver look equally good |
| White paper test | Skin looks yellowish or peachy against white paper | Skin looks pinkish or rosy | Skin looks balanced, no strong cast |
| Sun reaction | You tan easily, rarely burn | You burn easily, tan slowly | You tan gradually, sometimes burn first |
Best Metals for Your Undertone
Warm Undertones
Warm metals create a natural glow against warm skin:
- Yellow gold — The most universally flattering for warm tones
- Rose gold — Beautiful complement to peachy or olive warm tones
- Brass and copper tones — Fashion jewelry in these tones also works well
Cool Undertones
Cool metals harmonize with pink and blue undertones:
- White gold — Clean, bright, and flattering against cool skin
- Sterling silver — Classic cool-tone metal
- Platinum — Premium option with a cool gray luster
Neutral Undertones
You have the widest range of options:
- Both gold and silver look great on you
- Rose gold is particularly flattering as it bridges warm and cool
- Mixed-metal jewelry looks effortlessly natural on neutral tones
Best Gemstone Colors for Your Undertone
| Undertone | Most Flattering Gemstones | Colors to Be Cautious With |
|---|
| Warm | Citrine, ruby, garnet, peridot, coral, warm-toned sapphires, amber, carnelian | Icy blues and stark whites can look harsh |
| Cool | Sapphire, amethyst, aquamarine, tanzanite, blue topaz, emerald, diamond | Oranges and warm yellows may clash |
| Neutral | Nearly everything works — opal, tourmaline, morganite, alexandrite, pearl | Very few restrictions |
Important Caveat
These are guidelines, not rules. Personal preference always wins. If you have warm undertones but love how sapphire blue looks on you, wear sapphire. Confidence in your choice is more flattering than any color theory. Use these recommendations as a starting point, then trust your mirror.
Tips for Shopping
- Try jewelry on in natural light, not just store lighting. Natural light reveals the true interaction between metal and skin.
- Hold the piece against your inner wrist (where your skin tone is most consistent) before trying it on your hand or neck.
- If shopping online, order your top two metal choices and return the one that does not look quite right.
- Remember that gemstones interact with both your skin tone and the metal setting — a warm garnet in cool white gold will look different than the same garnet in yellow gold.